The chapter delves into the emotional ties humans can form with social robots, touching on concepts like the uncanny valley and our inclination to anthropomorphize robotic behavior. It raises philosophical questions about robots' potential for consciousness and emotional experiences, contrasting their intelligence with human capabilities. The discussion also addresses the practical applications of robots in caregiving roles due to the increasing demand for caretakers in aging societies.
Shermer and Herold discuss: social robots, sex robots, robot nannies, robot therapists • flying cars, jetpacks and The Jetsons • Masahiro Mori • emotions, animism, mind • emotional intelligence • artificial intelligence • large language lodels • ChatGPT, GPT-4, GPT-5 and beyond • the alignment problem • robopocalypse • robo soldiers • robot sentience • autonomous vehicles • AI value systems, and their legal and ethical status.
Eve Herold is an award-winning science writer. She has written extensively about issues at the crossroads of science and society, including stem cell research and regenerative medicine, aging and longevity, medical implants, transhumanism, and robotics and AI.